Last positioning means



V. H. MEYER LAST POSITIONING MEANS.

Jan. 14, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1956 [11 pen or [@272 on [2 fleyer Jan. 14, 1958 V.-H. MEYER LAST POSITIONING MEANS Filed April 26, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [nz/en tor v., H. MEYER I LAST POSITIONING MEANS Jan. 14, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 26, 1956 in yen for Verna/7 lffiyer United States Patent This invention relates to means for positioning geometrically graded lasts 'and shoes-relatively to the operating instrumentalities ofshojmachihtes, and is shown herein as embodied in-a power operated toe-lasting ma-..

chine constructed-in many respectsas disclosed in United.

States Letters Patent No. 2,160,846, granted June '6, 1939,

on an applicationtiled in the names of Fred CL. Eastman and Arthur E. =PymQ- It will beunderst'ood thatintits various novel aspects. the invention is-I'n'ot limitedinius'e to the machine herein illustrated, nor to lasting machines generally but may have advantageous applicatiomto any. machine for operating on shoes. requiring accurate .posi-.

tioning of the shoe with respect to w'orkjepgaging 'instr h mentalities whichare to. beoperated either. mai1ually .or.

by power Itis the common practice to r ly on judgment of in the machine, that is the operator, ,hy adiustinggthe shoe. and/or the tools for operating upon the shoe determines,

by sight the proper -relative positionofi the shoe'and the tools ashe considers-besL-Jt is frequently found,,l 1ow ever, .that this practice even with the,assistance oi gages, and when carefully used, does not sufiiciently, assure, uniT:

formly accurate shoe making results.-. In order .to. reduce.

the burden and skill requireclof theoperaton and forthe purpose -of obtaining consistently .unitormsresults from the performanceof each-machine operation the .present.

invention, in one aspect, contemplates the use oi the/last itself as a geometric instrumentzor precision part for ac: curately presenting a shoe. It-appears thatconsistently accurate shoe positioning can beattainedaif; required to be directlydependent'upon the characteristics of the lastson-which-the shoes 'aremade-or, more precisely, uponthe grading -system according to which suchlasts are produced and-the. positioning characteristics of: their hardware.- The geometric last'and shoe .grading system on which the present invention is predicated isiully-disclosed in-United States Letters Patent No. -l,948,547,,-granted February 27,1934, upon an applicationefiled in the name of Laurence E. Tophaml The principle,of'proportionality involved in that system and to be employed .in this. vdisclosure 'is found to have certaim inherent advantages in shoe making over the prevalenbaritlnnetic grading .sys-. tem; it=may .be helpful to note briefly:that.the:latter involves enlarging 'or diminishing the :lengtlrand width of lasts or shoes in a graded run ofi'sizes' by fixediincrements whereas in the more'recent or geometric r'gradingsystem:

each last or shoeof a graded series :.i's:enlarged br dimin-\ ished proportionally fromone-size to the =next'by a fixed rercentage -(preferablyiofi the order of 3%)o its length, girth; and allother. characteristicndimensionsn" Toe lasting machines of: the type disclosed-in the abovecited Eastmamet -a1. patent; and manyother types of=.toe lasting machines, commonly employ; a 1 pair flfgtobr cm bracing -wipers shapedto conform substantially to the contour of the bottomace of a :last at its toe: end; Usually,'. atter performinganupwiping- .operation-attthe toe,- -the the operator of a shoe machine properly to position ashot...

2,819,477 Patented Jan. 14, 1958 wipers move bodily inward over the shoe bottom until the hinge center of the wipers arrives at a fixed point in the machine known'as the ffocal point of the wipers. At

that point-wipers normally cease their solelyinward bo'dily movement andcommenceinward closing movemerit ,As. regards such machines itm y stated a a basie, considera,tion tha t fo r optimum performance the middle point of the,curyed edge pithe last bottom at its toeend, ot, whateversize and shape last supporting a shoe to be toe lasted, .shouldbe fixedly located, in predetermined, relationto (the; focal ,point ,o f the wipers selected for operationlonthat 'shoe.-,.Mo re-.specifically it is normally tobe preferredthat the middlepoint of the toe end of the last shall'coincide with the iocal point of the ;wipers.' Now, positionipgia shoeinthe machine disclosed in the Hash man et al patent, for example,- requires that a fwe lt shoe be.manually grasped ,'at its heel endand presented bottom up.,so that thejnner faceof itsinsole lip is. engaged by .the rim ofia vertically adjustable holddow'n plate while the latterengagesthe bottom ;fa ce .of the toe .portion of,

the=insol e. .When operative position of the shoe has thus.

been .eonjointlydetermined 'by an operator and the .plate selectedtherefor the shoe is clamped against the holddown by,,a toe rest. Thereater,. fo r,holding the shoe, against lengthwise movement, the Eastman {et al. machine, as;

well as torsupportingfihe'toe end in an angularrelation to the'wipers. .as-detern tined by the judgment of the oper ator reliance is'.had. u pon- .a heelrest in the iorm of a flexibllbandz-which is nioyed (by a s pring; under cam emu length .e 9i h-- .0 n e-i e end. whereupon shoe, is held lockedinoperative position. aresult otz sldlland operator, judgment, theshoe. toe. may thus, be located1 properly height-wise in relation to lh 6 lIlW8-l'd wiping..--p1ane of the wipers, there is no positive control of the heelgend. of the shoe asserted-b y the.;heel rest,or;other,wise;so as to assure that the toe end. will consistently bepositioned in proper predetermined relation to the, focal point of-the wipers and also be in cor reetangulanrelation tothe wipers. Moreover, when using heel; engaging ancl'supporting means of the general type indicated, the heelend is subject to the danger of beingmarred by the pressure necessarily applied thereby.

- Inview .ofthe foregoing it is a general object of the present-invention,considered broadly, to provide in a shoe machine novel work supporting means having facility for convenient-and accuratepresentment and positioning of geometrically gradedshoes, regardless of their style or size,--.With respect to the instrumentalities for operating thereonrdMore particularlyitis ,a primary object. of the invention to, provide-improved,-positively acting .means for controlling the positioning and holding of geometrically graded lasts and shoes relatively to wipersadaptedto operate-on the toe.por;tions thereof.

g Pursuant to these objects the machine herein shown is provided with instrumentalities operative in a plane, a support. engageablewithflhejheel end of any onepof a series of geometrically graded lasts and-adapted to hold it against-,tu rning-with.respect.to axes extending heightwise and-lengthwise. thQl'flOfgglIlfifiDS :forguiding-the support. from aloadinguzone to-an operating zone .tocarry a. shoe on the last mounted thereon along a path until the middle. point-of thetcurved edge'iofi the last at itstoe end lieslin said operating plane 0152 the instrumentalities and in azpredetermined relative position with respect thereto, and-an abutment engageable; with-, the .forepart of- :the suPPOfted shoe or last for so locating the latter.

.Morepartieularly, and for purposes of welt work, the machine-herein ishowniis-provided with wipers operative in a plane and having a focal point, and means forposi fl neanyn aisq'es oi g om tr y graded lasts and shoe-.t sre -inan s ts nincde a omt sa d forepart of the shoe bottom against the holddown, and

means for guiding the last mounted on said pin from a loading zone and along a predetermined path such that the middle point of the curved edge of the last bottom at its toe end is at said focal point when the holddown isengaged as aforesaid. Preferably, and as herein shown, this path is one parallel to the straight line or gradient which would be defined by the locus of the respective middle points at the bottoms of the toe "ends of a series of geometrically graded lasts (of one style but of different sizes) imagined as superposed and mounted on the last'pin and the point of intersection of the several last pin axes with the tops of the heel cones of the lasts. In explanation of this preference it may be noted that the last pin support, in the loading and operating zones, is arranged and adjusted normally to hold shoes so as to position each plane defined by the feather edge of the toes of the respective lasts in substantially parallel relation to the operating plane of the wipers. Accordingly, the support may be considered to exert positioning control at said point of intersection on each last heel cone and said point invariably is located accurately on the cone surface as proportionately required by geometric grading. Since last heel cones geometrically graded in a series are proportioned in height according to their respective last sizes, it follows that, when each middle point of the curved edge at the toe bottom has been located along said straight line and in the plane of the wipers, the heel end is correctly located heightwise in relation thereto. Further, with respect to locating the shoe in proper angular relation to the wipers when positioned for closing movement, it may be noted that, if differently sized geometrically graded lasts of one style when so located be imagined as having their toe ends superimposed and at the focal point of the wipers, the several points of intersection of the tops of the heel cones with their spindle hole axes will be on a straight line. This gradient line is found to lie to right or left (depending on whether it be a right or left shoe) of the longitudinal median line of the forepart of the shoe bottom a certain number of degrees, which number is predetermined for all sizes and widths of a given style.

The above and other features of the invention, including automatic means for locking the shoe in operative position and subsequently releasing it therefrom will now be described in detail in connection with the illustrative embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an upper portion of a machine for lasting the toes of welt shoes and in which the invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of a front portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1, portions being broken away and in section to illustrate the means for supporting a. last and insole in position to be operated upon, the upper of the shoe being omitted to avoid obscuring parts of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a detail view, partially in vertical section, of mechanism shown in Fig. l for locking a last in operative position;

gig. 4 is a plan view of parts seen in Figs. 1 and 2; an

Fig. 5 is a perspective, with a portion broken away, of parts seen in Fig. l for laterally positioning the shoe supporting means.

' Except for the novel shoe positioning'means and as otherwise noted herein, the illustrative machine may be assumed to be substantially like. the welt toe machine disclosed in the above-identified Eastman et al.

patent. It accordingly is provided with a pair of wipers 10 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4), a holddown 12 adjustable heightwise by a hand wheel 14 (Fig. 1) for engagement with the bottom face of the toe portion of an insole I, and a toe rest 16 (Fig. 2) movable heightwise in the course of a cycle of power operations of the machine to clamp the 'shoe in position to be lasted. The mounting, construction, and operation of. the wipers 10, holddown 12 and toe rest 16 may be presumed to be as fully described in said patent though it is to be noted that actual operation of these elements in the exemplary machine, as will hereinafter be'explained, occurs entirely 'after a shoe has been exactly and finally-positioned therein for toe lasting.

In presenting a shoe bottom-up to the machine, an operator places the heel cone of a geometrically graded -last L, on which the shoe is mounted, in a loading zone holes are each of the same size.

where its spindle hole 20 (Fig. 2) receives a last pin 22 (Fig. l), axes X (Fig. 2) of the hole and pin coinciding. It will be understood that though the holes 20 respectively in the lasts of a graded series have their axes located geometrically lengthwise and widthwise, the The last pin is affixed in a support 24 pivotally mounted at its heelward end on a fulcrum pin 26, the opposite ends of which are received, respectively, by confronting portions 28, 28 of a yoke 30. For guiding the last and its shoe in a straight path from the loading zone and into an operating zone in which the middle point of the curved edge at the bottom of the toe of the geometric last will be at the focal point of the wipers, the yoke 30 is slidably mounted on a pair of parallel bars 32, 32 bridged at their front ends by a handle 34 secured thereto by setscrews 36. Rearward ends of the bars 32, 32 are secured in bores formed in the upper ends respectively of a pair of arms 38, 38 into which clamping bolts 40, 40 are respectively threaded. The bars 32, 32 are together adjustable for swinging heightwise of the shoe and about a horizontal axis intersecting the focal point of the wipers. For this purpose the bolts 40, 40 extend through arcuate slots 42, 42 respectively formed in upright confronting brackets 44, 44 which "are bolted at their bases to a horizontally disposed bracket 46. The centers of curvature of the slots 42, 42 lie on the horizontal axis just mentioned. Scales 48, 48 (Fig. 2) on the brackets 44, 44, respectively, provide in terms of arbitrarily selected, equal increments a means for determining angular swinging adjustment of the bars 32, 32 together heightwise of the shoe, the bolts 40 being drawn into clamping relation with the brackets 44 opposite to a scale reading appropriate to the particular style of lasts in the machine.

The bars 32, 32 are also adjustable in unison about a vertical axis intersecting the focal point of the wipers. For this purpose the bracket 46 is provided with a pair of arcuate slots 50, 50 (Fig. 4) having their common center of curvature on that vertical axis. Guide screws 52, 52 respectively extend through the slots 50, 50 and are threaded into a flange 54 secured to the front of the machine frame 56 thus constraining the lateral swinging movement of the bars 32.

As indicated above, the supported lasts and shoes of a given style will lie to the right or left of the median plane M (indicated in Fig. 4) containing the focal point and substantially normal to the planes defined by the feather edges of the toes of the respective lasts, and by a predetermined number of degrees. The required angular ofiset of the various last models, as well as their appropriate setting on the scales 48, 48, it is contemplated. would be recorded and kept at hand as a chart for ready reference by an operator. It will be understood that for all sizes and rights or lefts in a particular style the appropriate angular offset may be determined from the chart of degrees. A block 60 (Big. 5) in the form of an isosceles triangle integral with an arm -62 --pivotally;-- mounted on'the flange 54 is yieldably supported against depression by a leaf spring 64- (Fig. 4) secured to that flange. The block 60 normally projects upwardly into a triangular slot in the flange 54 and is so disposed that its equal sides, together with adjacent walls of the slot, fqrrn ways 66, 68 extending at equal angles-relativelyto a radial line intersecting the vertical axis containing the focal point and the apex of the block 60. A vertical pin 70;, (Fig. 5) which extends downwardly into one of the ways 66 or 68 through a radial slot in the bracket 46 is integral with a block-72 that is threadedto receive an adjusting screw 7 The latter is rotatably supportedin T6, 78 integral with the bracket 46 and is held against endwise movement so that, when the screw 74 is turned by means of its knurled head 80, the pin 70 is inoved radially, that is from or toward the ventcal axis extending through the: focal point, as permitted hymen swinging of the bracket 46 Thu'sthe arrange ment is such that, when the pin 70 is at the apex of the triangular block 60, a last L mounted on the pin 22 would have no offset in the machine and themedian plane M would contain a gradient line Y (Figs. 2 and 4) connecting the focal point with the aforementioned point of inter se'ctionof the heel pin axis X and the top of the last heel'cone; a'zero'point'on a seale 82 (Fig. l) is indexed on' th'e flange 54 andindicat'es "this condition when a corresponding cent'ralmark on the bracket 46 is in register therewith. At other positions ofthe pin 70 'in one ofthe wa'y's 66jor 68 anangular'off'set, as appropriate according"to"the "chart for' the particular style of last, will be determined, the way 66 acting to 'ofisetright'lasts arid "shoesand theway' 63 sirnilarly'positioning the lefts.

l'ri shifting'opei'ations fi'on1"a."right to a' left shoe of o the'sam'e style (or'vice versa) it is only necessary to dpress'"the"arm 62 until the lower end of the pin 70 ca'n clear the block 60, when the bracket 16 may be swung by' gras'pi'ng the handle 34 to place the pin on the opposite side 'of the'block. Release of the arm 62' then permits theblock again to project"into the'triangular slot in the flange 54 for engagement withthe other'side of the pin 70 and the bracket 46and bars 32, 32 are thus locked against further widthwise swinging movement.

In order that the middle points of thecurved edges of the toes of the lasts, when the latter are mounted on the last pin 22, will all lie on the same straight line designated Y (Figs. 2 and 4) corresponding to their style, and as appropriate to their being rights or lefts, any convenient means may be employed for holding each last L against rotation about an axis extending heightwise thereof. For purposes of the present invention it is preferred to employ last positioning hardware in the form of a heel cone plate 86 of metalwhich is adapted to fit onto the top of the heel cone of the last and is secured thereto. A positioning pin 88 affixed in the support 24- and'located in the plane containing the focal point and the" last pin axis X is adapted to be received by a positioning hole 90 formed in the plate 86. It is to be noted that the plate 86 is, in this instance, outside of the geometrically graded last itself, it generally being more convenient to turn a last exactly in accord with geometric grading and without allowingfor inclusion of the thickness ofthe plate 86.

In moving the last L with its insole I from the loading-zone rearwardly to the operating zone in which a downwardly extending'rim 92 of the holddown is to-fit against the inner face of an upstanding rib'R on the insole, it is desirable manually to depress the forepart of-the last until the rib has been moved very slightly beyond the holddown 12. This procedure allows the latter to remain unmoved until its adjustment or detachment i's 'necessitated by a change in style or size of shoe tobe lasted. The support 24 is'a'ccordingly provided with a hole for receivingone end of acompression spring- 94"(Fig. "2) having other 'end seated'dn a threaded --returned exactly to the gradientline Y. The shoe? need? then only be retracted slightly to have its insole-1 and-=- rib R engaged properly bythe holddown 12, the middlepoint of the curved edge of the toe then being exactly-at the focal point of the .wipers. leis-particularly tot-be noted that the line Y alongwhich-everymiddlepoint of-= the curved toe edges is moved, is parallel. to the-longitudio nal axes of the bars32, 32.: A i 'li li For automatically locking the positioned last in operative position with its toe end middle point at the focal point, and for subsequently etfecting-release of the lash from such position, use is made-of theheel-band operating mechanism provided in the machine of the- Eastman et aim patent. A pair of rods 100, (Figs.-1 and '2) are herein:- shown as corresponding to the rods 128; 128 of: that-t patent and mounted for movement lengthwise ofthe-shoe. 1n hearings in the frame 56s It will be' understood, there fiore, thatafter a shoe has been flnally-positionedfor the toe lasting operation, the operator starts thepower-cycle': of the machine to cause thetoe rest 16 to clamp the sheer against the holddown 12;.and -to-causeshooto-be locked against lengthwise movement, the rods 100 being-- moved rearwardly (under control of-a cam not shown in the drawings) to lock-the shoe incorrect poistiom for automatic actuation-of the wipers 10. -The-downtu-rnedi front ends of the rods 100, 100--( Fig:- 1)-are eonnected by a link 102-extcnding throughthe-lower end ofa lever= 194 pivotally-supported by a bracket '106 bolted' -on the flange 54. The upper end of -thellever -10 4 is;-connectedto the corresponding ends of a pair-of Bowden wires'l08 extending slidably in tubes 112, 114 respectively:- Opposite ends of the wires respectively actuatelocking mechanism associated with the opposed ends-of-the yoke 30. Since both mechanisms are substantially alike, except for being in different peripheral positions-with-respeet-to their bars 32, 32, only the one associated with the-righthand bar 32 as seen in Fig. -l and shownin section: in Fig. 3 will now be described.

Three pawls 116 (one only shown in Fig. 3) pivotally mounted side by side on a pin 118 supported by the yoke 30 have teeth arranged to mesh withcorrespondinglyin clined teeth 120 formed on the underside ofithe =bar,32. An end of the wire 108 slidably extends-through an-end of an arm 122 also pivotally supported by-the pin--118,- and has aflixed thereon a collar 124: The other end of the arm 122 is arranged to abut-a portion-1260f the pawlsto urge the latter counterclockwise (as seen-in Fig.:3)' and thus separate the pawl teethfrom the teeth 120 when the rods 100 are moved forwardly to unlock the posi" tioned shoe. Rearward movementof the-'rods'100fraises' the collar 124 from the arm 122'and'so-pern'1its the latterto pivot clockwise as the pawl teeth'are forced'into locking engagement with the teeth 120 by'theresilience-"of several U-shaped spring wires 128 having ends respeetively bearing upwardly on the pawls sna'mwerenas aaeliereu' to the yoke 30. The teeth of one pawl 116 are ad'v'aihtedf one third of the pitch of the teeth 120; b eyondtheteeth bf" another pawl 116, while the teeth'oithe' thirdpa'wl 116 are advanced still another third. Thus, the forward movement from any given stopping 'poin't to the" point where one of the pawls 116 will effectively hold is.

a 7 ment and the last is held against displacement by the wiping movements of the wipers.

Operation of the machine with regard to the positioning means will now be briefly reviewed as herein used for welt work, it being understood that if the shoes were to be flat lasted or otherwise operated upon essentially similar positioning means would be employed, a suitable forepart engaging abutment being used, for example, to engage either the last or shoe thereon in lieu of the holddown-12 since the rib R would not then be available. (A retractable abutment engageable with the tips of the toes of such non-welt type shoes at the focal point of the machine might, for example, be satisfactorily employed.) Having the rib R on an insole I mounted on a geometric last L, the last may be placed on the pins 22 and 88 prior to their being positioned. Perhaps the more usual order of procedure would be first to locate the last positioning pins 22 and 88 and then to mount the last on said pins. For such initial location of the pins the bars 32, 32 will be adjusted angularly heightwise and then locked in correct position by the bolts 40 as indicated by the scale 48; next, the block 60 being depressed, the bars 32, 32 will be adjusted angularly widthwise by swinging the bracket 46 to right or left depending on whether a right or left shoe is being lasted. With the block 60 released to its normal up position, if lateral angular adjustment is needed the bracket 46 is rotated by turning the knurled head 80 to obtain a correct offset position as indicated by the scale 82. All correct scale settings will be determined from a chart and applicable to all the sizes and rights and lofts of the particular style of geometrically graded shoes.

-A right shoe is shown in the machine in Fig. 4, and if pairs in a production run on one style are to be toe lasted the correct angular offsets for successive rights and lefts may be conveniently and successively determined by means of shifting the pin 70 from the way 66 to the way 68 and vice versa. By turning of the knurled head 80 so as to move the pin 70 radially into engagement with that portion of the flange 54 constituting the wall of the way 66'; the bracket 46 may be swung appropriately so that the right shoes of every size in that style will have proper lateral positioning. To shift the bars 32 laterally in order to" operate on the left shoes the block 69 is depressed to permit the pin 70 to be shifted into engagement with a corresponding portion of the flange 54 forming a wall of the way 68. Allowing the block 62 to project into the triangular slot in the flange 54 locks the pin 70 in the way 68 to prevent unintended lateral swing of the bracket 46 and enables the operator to proceed without further reference to the chart until the style of shoe is changed.

It only remains for the operator to slide the yoke 30 rearwardly on the bars 32 from the loading zone so as to carry the toe very slightly beyond the rim 92 of the holddown 12, and with the forepart depressed against resistance of the spring 94 to avoid engagement of the rib R with the bottom of the holddown. The operator then urges the last and shoe forwardly to assure snug engagement of the rib R with the rim 92 while the insole forepart is not depressed but is in generally horizontal engagement with the bottom of the holddown. The detachable holddown normally needs no adjustment, its lower rim edges bearing on the insole adjacent to the rib when the tip of the toe of the last is at the focal point. Positioning is then completed and the power cycle of the machine may be initiated by stepping on the treadle with which the machine is provided, the rods 100 thereupon acting by the means above described to lock the last and shoe in correct operative position before the wipers are actuated.

It will be appreciated that with the aid afforded by this invention an operator need exercise no visual positioning. of the work but may be assured that each last serves accurately to locate its shoe with respect to the wipers." The toes of a pair of shoes are certain to be lasted properly as mates. Near the completion of the operating cycle the rods are moved forwardly and the toe lasted shoe is thereby unlocked so that it may be withdrawn from the machine.

Having described my invention, what is claimed as new ,and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a toe lasting machine having wipers operative I in a plane, a heel cone support for a geometrically graded last, means for adjusting said support in its loading zone both widthwise and heightwise of the last, means cooperative with said support yieldably to position the last with the plane defined by the feather edge of its toe portion in parallel relation to the operating plane of the wipers,

means acting on the supported last to -hold it against turning movement with respect to axes extending heightwise and lengthwise thereof, and means for guiding the support from its loading zone to present the toe of the supported last in predetermined relation to said operating plane of the wipers.

2. In a lasting machine having'wipers operative in I a plane, a support engageable with the heel end of a geometrically graded last and adapted to hold it against turning with respect to axes extending heightwise and lengthwise thereof, means for guiding the support from a loading zone to an operating zone to carry a shoe on the last mounted thereon along a predetermined path to a position in which the middle point of the curved edge at the bottom of the toe end of the last lies substantially in said operating plane of the wipers, and an abutment engageable with the forepart of the supported shoe or last for so locating the latter.

3. In a lasting machine having wipers operative in a plane, a support engageable with the heel end of a geometrically graded last and adapted to hold it against turning with respect to axes extending heightwise and lengthwise thereof, means for guiding the support from a loading zone to an operating zone to carry a shoe on the last mounted thereon along a straight path until the middle point of the curved edge at the bottom of the toe end of the last lies substantially in said operating plane of the wipers and is coincident with the line of intersection of said plane and the median plane of said wipers,

and an abutment engageable with the forepart of the supported shoe or last for so locating the latter, said guiding means being adjustable to vary the path of the last according to its style.

4. In a machine for lasting the toe portions of geometrically graded welt shoes, 2. pair of wipers operative in a plane and having a focal point, and means for positioning any one of a series of geometrically graded lasts, on which the shoes may be mounted, with respect to said operating plane of the wipers and so that the middle point of the curved edge at the bottom of each toe is located in predetermined relation to said focal point, said means including a holddown arranged to be engaged by the forepart of the shoe bottom and the inner face of the upstanding rib formed thereon, a last pin adapted to engage the eel end of the last in its spindle hole, and means for guiding the last mounted on said pin from a loading zone and along a straight path until the longitudinal position of the shoe has been positively determined by its engagement with said holddown.

5. In a machine for lasting the toe portions of geometrically graded welt shoes, toe wipers having a focal point, and means for controlling the positioning of any one of a series of geometrically graded lasts on which the shoes may be mounted in predetermined relation with respect to said point, the means including a holddown in its spindle hole, a support on which said last pin is mounted for tipping movement in a direction to press the forepart of the shoe bottom against the holddown, and

means for guiding the last mounted on said pin from a loading zone and along a straight path to position the middle point of the curved edge at the bottom of the toe at said focal point when the inner face of said rib is engaged by said holddown.

6. In a machine for lasting geometrically graded welt shoes, a pair of toe embracing wipers having a focal point, and means for controlling the presenting of any one of a series of geometrically graded lasts, on which the shoes are mounted, when the middle point of the curved edge at the toe bottom of each last is to be positioned at said focal point, said means including a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, a support on which said last pin is mounted for yielding movement about an axis extending widthwise of the shoe, mechanism for adjusting the support in selected angular relation heightwise of the shoe with respect to an axis extending widthwise of the shoe through the focal point, mechanism for adjusting the support in selected angular relation widthwise of the shoe with respect to an axis extending heightwise of the shoe through the focal point, and mechanism for guiding the support when the last pin has thus been adjusted heightwise and widthwise to carry the point of intersection of the last pin axis with the top of the heel cone of the last along a predetermined path intersecting said focal point.

7. In a toe lasting machine, toe wipers having an operating plane and a focal point therein, a 'support for a geometrically graded last, a last pin on said support, means holding the last in fixed orientation on said pin, means for guiding said support from a loading zone to an operating zone in which the middle point of the curved edge at the bottom of the toe of the last is at said focal point, said guiding means including a pair of parallel bars by which said support is carried, mechanism for adjusting said bars in unison about an axis extending widthwise of the last, and mechanism for adjusting said bars in unison about an axis extending heightwise of the last and intersecting said widthwise axis at said focal point, and means associated with said bars for locking 10 the last against lengthwise movement when said middle point of the toe of the last is positioned at the focal point.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 7 further characterized in that said support is disposed for movement intermediate said bars in a direction lengthwise of the last and is adjustably mounted for yielding movement in one direction about an axis extending widthwise thereof to position the plane defined by the feather edge of the toe of the last in parallel relation to the operating plane of the wipers.

9. In a toe lasting machine having toe wipers operative in a plane and a forepart holddown operative to engage the bottom of a shoe on a geometrically graded last in predetermined relation to the wiping plane and the focal point of said wipers, a heel support for the geometrically graded last, means including a last pin mounted on said support for holding the last thereon against turning movement, mechanism for adjusting said heel support relatively to said focal point about axes intersecting thereat and respectively extending widthwise and heightwise of the last, and means for guiding said support from a position in its loading zone, selectively determined according to the style of the supported last, and along a path parallel to the straight line connecting said focal point with the point in space at which the top of the heel cone of the last when at said selectively determined position intersected the axis of said last pin. 

